Kingsbury, Tech can’t forget humiliating loss to TCU last season

Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury congratulates offensive lineman Baylen Brown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. Texas Tech beat Arkansas 35-24. less

Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury congratulates offensive lineman Baylen Brown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. Texas ... more

Photo: Samantha Baker /Associated Press

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Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Texas Tech Red Raiders on the sidelines during the game against UTEP Miners on September 12, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 69-20.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Texas Tech Red Raiders on the sidelines during the game against UTEP Miners on September 12, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 69-20.

Photo: John Weast /Getty Images

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Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury claps for his players during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. Texas Tech beat Arkansas 35-24. less

Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury claps for his players during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. Texas Tech beat Arkansas ... more

Photo: Samantha Baker /Associated Press

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Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury, right, celebrates after a successful play during an NCAA college football game against University of Texas at El Paso, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Lubbock, Texas.

Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury, right, celebrates after a successful play during an NCAA college football game against University of Texas at El Paso, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Lubbock, Texas.

Photo: Allison Terry /Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

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TCU head coach Gary Patterson instructs his team during an NCAA college football game against SMU Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Fort Worth, Texas.

TCU head coach Gary Patterson instructs his team during an NCAA college football game against SMU Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez /Associated Press

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TCU head coach Gary Patterson instructs his defends during an NCAA college football game against SMU Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Fort Worth, Texas.

TCU head coach Gary Patterson instructs his defends during an NCAA college football game against SMU Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez /Associated Press

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Head coach Gary Patterson of the TCU Horned Frogs calls out to his team against the SMU Mustangs in the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Head coach Gary Patterson of the TCU Horned Frogs calls out to his team against the SMU Mustangs in the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Photo: Ron Jenkins /Getty Images

Kingsbury, Tech can’t forget humiliating loss to TCU last season

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A smirking Kliff Kingsbury was resplendent in his Italian-cut suit, complete with a white carnation pinned smartly on his lapel.

Kingbury hasn’t been able to bask after many big conquests recently, making his victory lap last week after Texas Tech’s 35-24 triumph over Arkansas something to be savored. And he certainly dressed the part for the celebration.

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Revenge was sweet for Kingsbury and the Red Raiders in arguably one of his biggest career victories. But as significant as it might have been, Kingsbury has a chance at something much bigger Saturday when No. 3 TCU visits.

Kingsbury can’t forget the humiliating feeling of TCU’s 82-27 rout of the Red Raiders last season. By the end of that one, TCU’s game-management staff was scrambling after running out of fireworks to toast each scoring drive.

The Horned Frogs piled up 785 yards and 9.1 yards per snap, scoring on 14 times on 16 possessions. Their total actually could have been greater after settling for four field goals.

“That game last season didn’t leave a chip on my shoulder,” Tech senior wide receiver Jakeem Grant said. “More like an entire bag of chips up there. We still remember it.”

Kingsbury and TCU coach Gary Patterson are polar opposites.

Kingsbury earned his first head-coaching job in his sixth season as a college assistant. Patterson had to slog through jobs at 11 different schools in 18 seasons as a college assistant before getting his break at TCU.

Kingsbury was a star quarterback for the Red Raiders. Patterson was a walk-on linebacker at Kansas State.

The Tech coach built his reputation by coaching offense. Patterson was a defensive specialist.

Kingsbury’s dapper appearance has been likened to actor Ryan Gosling. Patterson’s wild rants after games have brought back memories of a character the late Chris Farley might have played on “Saturday Night Live,” particularly late in the season when Patterson’s raspy voice becomes a croak.

So Saturday’s game will be a little bigger than just a battle between two undefeated Big 12 teams. It will be between two widely divergent programs and two coaching ideologies.

Kingsbury left little doubt the Red Raiders would like another notch on their revenge tour.

“I don’t think you forget losses like that. As a player I didn’t,” he said. “It’s a conference game, which should be motivation enough. They haven’t forgotten how that felt last year.”

Patterson will be trying to win for the first time in Lubbock, a place where TCU hasn’t been victorious since 1991.

In 2004, TCU jumped to a 21-0 lead before Tech stormed back to score 56 straight points en route to a 70-35 triumph. And in 2013, TCU had a punt return for a touchdown wiped out by a penalty and two fumble recoveries given back in a 20-10 loss.

The TCU coach stopped short of saying he felt jinxed at Jones AT&T Stadium. But he has endured some weird things there before.

“Good teams create their magic,” Patterson said.

But with a banged-up defense missing six starters from what was expected before the season, TCU could be ripe for an upset.

Particularly against a Tech team that still hasn’t forgotten what it felt like the day they ran out of fireworks in Fort Worth.